"You, uh, you sure about this?"
Fynch's bone-white shell shifted nervously as his singular eye darted about the frozen ruin, pointedly ignoring the stars that hung in some of the shadows, pretending he couldn't hear their silent screams.
"Of course Nero is sure," his companion replied. The other Ghost was low to the ground, his green eye alight with eldritch telemetry as he parsed through the scrap and ice in search of his prize.
"Yeah, but, like… are you sure sure? I know we're giving the Hive a second chance here, but this feels like going a bit far. I don't think Immaru will like it."
Nero's shell flexed dismissively, its bony protrusions casting shadows like the horns of an imp.
"Immaru will understand once Immaru sees," the Ghost insisted. "Savathun Queen wishes to best Light with Dark. She will be most pleased with Nero's work."
"But-"
"Away, away!" Nero interrupted, impatience turning to irritation. "Fynch will leave now. Nero will call him when the work is done."
"Alright, alright!" Fynch grumbled. "Just don't say I didn't warn you."
With that, he disappeared in a flash of emerald data, leaving the other Ghost utterly alone.
But not for long.
"Begin experiment," Nero uttered aloud to himself, only to record his voice back into his own thoughts.
His scanners raked through the derelict earth like long, invisible fingers, until they seized upon something. An invisible thread of solid shadow, hair-thin but unbroken.
"Hypotheses were developed via preliminary research and analysis of existing data, which will now be recounted for the record," Nero explained to no one as he began to spool the shadow into his formless grasp.
"Premise: Light exists in all things. See: Words of the Speaker.
Premise: Living things can be corrupted. See: Books of Sorrow.
Premise: Light can be corrupted. See: Books of Sorrow.
Hypothesis: Corrupted Light exists in corrupted living things."
When Nero had collected the whole of the strand of shadow, he began twining it together with itself, spinning it into a thicker, more solid rope.
"Premise: Corrupted Light can be manipulated. See: Death of Oryx.
Premise: Ghosts can manipulate Light to resurrect Hive. See: Existence of Lucent Brood.
Premise: Corrupted Light exists in corrupted living things. See: Above.
Hypothesis: Ghosts can resurrect corrupted Hive."
Nero began to wrap the rope around and over itself, weaving it into bone and sinew and nerve.
"Premise: A corrupted Hive died here. See: The shadows are screaming.
Premise: I am a Ghost. See: Me.
Premise: Ghosts can resurrect corrupted Hive. See: Above.
Hypothesis: Something amazing is about to happen."
There was a bright flash of Light.
Fynch's shell twisted and shifted, nervously, fearfully. His Knight seemed to share his discomfort, as he kept gnashing his fangs and snarling words in guttural Hive under his breath. Fynch didn't understand much, but he gathered that there was a lot of swearing involved. Ken hadn't been too happy when he saw Nero's new 'friend', but Fynch had managed to convince him to give them a ride back to the Throne World anyway.
Now that they'd made it back, Fynch was ready to head right back out again. He didn't want to be anywhere near this place when the others found out.
Nero didn't even notice Fynch and his Knight vanish in a flash of transmat. All his focus was on the figure walking behind him as he led the way towards Savathun's Court.
"Nameless thing will follow Nero, yes? Will heed his words, yes?"
Three alabaster stars stared at him, unreadable and silent. Nero had hoped it would be more vocal so he could interview it, but the creature seemed to obey him well enough for now. They could work on its communication skills later. For now, it was time to reveal his work to his peers, and the thought made him shiver with excitement.
As they passed over the verdant swamps of the Quagmire, the emerald mists parted, and the pale, marble cathedrals of Savathun's fortress faded into view, their spires gleaming in the endless twilight like so many sharpened fangs.
"There dwells Savathun Queen," Nero said aloud. "She is the ruler of this land, and when we meet her nameless thing must show respect, yes? Lest it be destroyed."
Nero glanced back to ensure the creature was listening, but found its strange eyes turned elsewhere, staring into a nearby patch of red grass. It was unmoving, save for the faint billowing of its long black cloak, and an occasional shuddering spasm that would rack its body, like its lightless flesh was dissonant with the very fabric of space.
"Come now," Nero said, irritated by the delay. "We must move before-"
Something leapt from the cover of the grass, flaming censer roaring and headless body reaching. The Ravager slammed into Nero's creature with an explosion of Solar fire, its wretched form stinking of rot and ash. Nero vanished in a fearful flash of transmat, watching from his immaterial vantage as the two monsters scrabbled in the mud.
The fight was short-lived, however. After a moment, Nero's creature grabbed the Scorn by its arm and rose to its feet. It was small by Hive standards, only of height with a Lightbearer Acolyte, but still it towered over the ravager. With its censer arm held in a deathless grip, the Ravager resorted to its free, empty hand, rending the creature's body with talons that were more mutilated than honed.
If the creature felt the pain of the flames or the slashes, it did not show it. Instead it slowly grabbed the Ravager's other arm, and pulled.
Once the dark ether had dissipated and the Scorn's amputated body had stopped twitching, Nero compiled back into reality.
"Come now," he repeated, somewhat nervously. "We will be safe from these things once we reach the walls of the fortress."
The creature made no reply, simply turning back to the path and walking forward towards the gates of Savathun's Court.
Nero and his creature reached the gates of the fortress without being accosted by any more Scorn. But they would not enter the structure unhindered. At their approach, a great looming shape moved within the courtyard beyond, blocking the gate entirely.
"When I heard the Knight's report, I nearly laughed," the towering Knight growled in his booming voice. "I did not think even the most deranged Ghost could attempt such a foolish thing. And yet, here you are." The Knight's grip tightened on the titanic axe he carried over one shoulder. "The King's monsters have no place in our ranks. I should strike this abomination down, here and now, and you along with it."
"Lightblade is far from his post," Nero noted, his tone defiant. "Perhaps he should return to the temple, and stop meddling in affairs that do not concern him."
"I go where my Queen wills it, pest," the Knight growled, his voice echoing against the very fabric of the space in which they stood.
"As does Nero," the Ghost replied, unphased. "Savathun Queen wishes to meet all new Lightbearers personally, yes? To bring them before the Altar?"
The Lightblade snarled, and for a moment it seemed as though he might actually attack. Then, a sweet voice came floating over to them.
"The Ghost called Nero and his Risen are to present themselves before Queen Savathun," said the Risen Wizard as she flew into view behind the Knight. For a moment, the Knight hesitated, as though he was considering refusing the order. Then, with a grunt, he moved his massive frame aside.
"Begone, mad thing," he growled lowly. Nero simply flexed his shell with pride and flew forward, his silent creation in tow.
The Lightblade watched them go, each of his three eyes aflame with hatred. "Nothing good shall come of this," he uttered.
"Perhaps not," the Wizard agreed. "But Lady Savathun is no fool. She will watch this creature carefully, and determine if it has any use to our brood." Then, she leaned in to whisper into the Lightblade's ear, in an act as familiar as breathing. "And imagine if it can be made useful. The King's most loyal servants, bent to our purpose. What greater vengeance could we ask for than that?"
The Lightblade sighed, his wrath failing as it always did when she was so near. "You speak wisely as always, my love."
Nero and his creature passed through the halls of the fortress with silence. They passed many other Hive, but most only stared. A few Acolytes snarled at the creature as it passed, their worms demanding they stake their claim as strongest. But they quickly fled when the creature's eldritch gaze turned upon them.
Eventually, they came to the Altar of Reflection, where She waited.
"It is good to see you, Nero," the Queen of Lies said with a smile. "I had begun to worry you would return from your quest for a companion empty-handed. Or that you would not return at all."
Nero pointed his eye downward and slumped his shell in an imitation bow.
"Nero is sorry to have kept Savathun Queen waiting. His search patterns were… unorthodox, and kept him busy for some time."
"Yes, they must have been unorthodox indeed to yield such unique and fascinating results."
Nero swelled with pride, and he bobbed vigorously at the affirmation.
"I must know, what possessed you to even attempt such a thing?"
Nero fidgeted slightly. "Hive were once Dark, yes? Nero knows this. But Savathun Queen freed Hive, remade them with Ghosts and Light. Conquered Dark. Nero wished to see if deeper Dark could be conquered too."
"And what conclusion did you reach?"
Nero glanced back at the creature he had made, silent and motionless but for the occasional spasm.
"Nameless thing does not speak, but it obeys. Dark and Light war within it, out of balance. But Nero thinks in time, equilibrium will be found, and nameless thing will become something greater. Something whole. Like human subspecies called Awoken. Savathun Queen knows of them, yes?"
"Yes," Savathun laughed. "I know them very, very well. So be it. You have my blessing to carry on with your research as you work with your Risen in my service. Although, you really must choose a name for it, if it will not choose one itself. 'Nameless thing' is hardly a worthy moniker."
Nero looked once more to his Risen, and found it staring back at him, almost expectantly. He thought for a moment, thought of the power he knew lay within it, and how it would become the greatest of the Lucent Hive's Hunters, given time.
"Nameless thing will now be named Hacklebaran. For the Huntmaster of old, scourge of the winter skies."
"A fine name," Savathun mused. She turned to look upon Nero's work, and spoke. "My first mission to you, Hacklebaran, o Hunter mine, is this: a sect of Hive have been gaining power in the system by using one of my dear nephew Nokris' old failed experiments as footsoldiers. You are to hunt down these aberrations and the Hive who command them, and slay them all."
For a moment, Hacklebaran was still. Then, it bowed, and walked out into the light.
AN: Short little pseudo-Halloween one-shot. Originally tried to tie this in with a story about Glint and Eido hunting down a Headless One and coming across Hacklebaran instead, but wasn't happy with how it was integrating with the story, so decided to cut it out. Also considered making this about a Headless One getting turned into a Lightbearer, but couldn't find a way of developing that into a full story that I liked.
Anyway, hope you all enjoyed, and have a wonderful Hall Between!